Starting Chemo in Nov. 2011...anyone else?
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GrandmaV ~ I am grateful for the treatments and as I say to myself (and anyone else who is around to listen) that I will happily swallow that Arimidex each and every day that I am here to do it! And, since my onc says I could be taking it longer than 5 years I will be more than happy to take it for 10 or 20 years if that's what keeps me healthy. I feel very lucky that aside from some aches and hot flashes I haven't had significant SE's that would keep me from taking it and I have been taking it for over 3 months. I feel bad for those who have such bad issues with the anti-hormonals.
I had a bad day yesterday with the "what ifs" and it was a struggle to get those thoughts out of my mind. I am trying to concentrate on work today...and my upcoming cruise! I just don't want to "go there" and ruin the good days that we all hope will mean continued NED. If you ask me, this BC is the pits!
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I think we will always wonder "what if" and worry with each checkup. I would like to say that I don't but I would be lying. I found an onco here in North Carolina. I am starting over and like Grandma V, I am sort of happy to do it. I don't think my last onc paid enough attention to my concerns about my health. When I was running a fever two months after treatment, I was told to go to the emergency room even though her office was open. The ER is very expensive and time consuming. I am praying that everything works out with the new onc.
I prayed that the Arimidex would take away my hot flashes and I think it has. I am hoping for the same effect with joint pain...haven't noticed anything yet. I too am short of breath and some days, I still don't have the energy to get out of bed. I do get it anyway but my preferences would be to stay there. My ankles have been swelling and my legs ache sooo bad. I anyone else having any of these symptoms?
I hope everyone is having cooler weather and enjoying some anxiety free time during the day.
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My daughter said the twins will be here on October 1. They will start inducing her on September 30. I can't wait to see them. I am going to try to drive back to Indiana by myself. Please be praying for me, I have NEVER done anything like this before. If I can't make it or if I chicken out before Monday, I am going to fly back. I really hope I can make the drive.
How is everyone doing? I saw my new oncologist today. I like her and I think we will get along great!
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bethu77, That's great news. October 1 is just around the corner. I'm glad you like your new onc. I may have found a new one, but I see my BS for follow up in October and I'm going to wait until I see her, to see if she knows anything about him.
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Linnyhop-Have a great time on your cruise! You deserve a worryfree time.
Grandma-Good luck with your new oncologist. I hope she suits you better than the last one and that you can trust her. That makes a difference. This disease is scary enough without having to worry if your doctor knows what is best for you and is providing you with the best care possible.
Beth-Great news on the twins! Whether you fly or drive, be safe and have a good time.
I just got back from having my first mammogram since the diagnosis last year at this same time. The radiologist said it looked great, not even much scarring. She said that they look for changes and that there are changes showing on my mammogram but that they are expected ones, due to radiation and surgery. She said I could even wait a year to come back, or I could have a repeat one in 6 months. I opted to come back in 6 months, just because I want to continue to do all I can to keep myself disease-free. She said that the breast tissue takes a whole year after radiation to settle down again. So that sounded like the best news I could have hoped for! I leave for Las Vegas with my sisters and my husband the middle of next week, and now I feel like I can relax a little bit. Let the good times roll!
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bahamamom, Congratulations on your clean mammo. Have fun on your trip.
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What a year its been!! Just celebrated my 1 year cancerversary on Sept 23rd. I postponed my radiation treatments due to my BRCA2 positive results. I am surprised that my eyebrows and eyelashes decided to fall off again! My last chemo tx was April 10th! Did this happen to anyone else.
I need to read some post to catch up...hope you all are well!
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It's been a long time since I posted here, and it is good to see so many still in touch! I had my TEs swapped out last week, port removed and a hernia repaired so I am sore and tender, but it is all FORWARD motion. I have been very emotional and teary-eyed since last week's surgery, and now I know why...reading Sandlake's entry made me realize that today is the anniversary of the phone call confirming cancer. The decision made to do a bilateral mastectomy. Wow. What a year! Overall, doing well, and pleased so far with the implants...MUCH better than the expanders! But still have stitches and healing to go.
Sandlake, my lashes have gone somewhat missing again too! They grew in first VERY long, and now those long beauties are coming out, and what is coming in is pretty stubby. Oh, well. Better than none at all. So long to get over some of these things! bahamamom, congrats on your clea mammo! And it is good in some ways to be reminded that things take so much time to go away, heal, recover, whatever.
I have some catch-up reading to do as well!
Andi
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So glad to hear there are many positive things going on for all of us. I have decided to wait until I return from our cruise to have my mammogram. I just didn't want to even think about it or the results before we leave. Thanks to all of you who have been so nice with the good wishes for our trip. It is the first time in 3 years that DH and I have been able to get away and we are very thrilled to be going.
By the way, my eyelashes and brows seem to have been leaving for the second time. Very weird. My hair is VERY gray and is longer in the back than the top. I am going to take the plunge and dye it tonight. Wish me luck. I want to be able to wear a ball cap on the ship and the color right now is frightful.
I will wear my wig to the dining room, but don't want to take a chance on it blowing off while on deck. Now that would be a real sight to see!It certainly has been quite a year and I am so thankful I found this website and "our" November 2011 chemo thread. I truly don't know how I would have made it without all of you. I am hoping we will continue to post so that we can share our successes and keep track of each other. Take care and hugs to ALL of you! Linda
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Linnyhopp - a friend of mine had the same plan about wearing hats during the day and the wig to the dining room on a recent cruise. Funny part was, the buzz on the ship was the woman her husband was with all day was not the woman he dined with!!
Enjoy!!
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Linnyhopp, have a fabulous, worry-free trip!
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CHH ~ Too funny about your friend. I would love if a juicy rumor got started about me...LOL! I always tell my friends that if they ever hear anyone talking about me they should throw in something to make it racy. It would be my only shot at being a hussy!
Andimom03 ~ Thanks for your good wishes. I am hoping I will leave my worries at home. After a year of pretty much having to be "married" to our treatments I wish we could all meet for a girls' weekend and have a great time. In the meantime, I will make sure I toast a "foo foo" drink for all my buddies who are fighting the good fight.
Oh, by the way, I dyed my hair tonight for the first time. Actually, it's kind of fuzzy hair, but it's hair no matter how unevenly it's growing. The gray is gone, but the color I used was warm blond. Not sure if it's warm blond or light brown. The bottom line is that it's better than it was!
Take care and I will miss reading the message boards while I am on our cruise...but I will still be thinking of everyone and hoping that all of us find something to celebrate each and every day. Hugs and blessings...Linda
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My eleylashes fell out and have grown back again. My hair is turning blonde...I think this will be a good thing! I drove to Indiana by myself and it was great! I feel like I have overcome so much this past year. My daughter is not 6 cm dilated so the twins will be here soon!
Everyone take care and be blessed!
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I am getting ready for my trip to Las Vegas tomorrow. I have to work the school day, but as soon as it is over, I am off to the airport. I am so excited. I am feeling very good. Not only did I get the good mammogram on Monday, but I also got a good doctor's report on Wednesday with my a1c level. My PCP had tested it a couple of months ago, and it was very high. He was thinking I was at least prediabetic, if not diabetic. But I had a feeling it was because of the steroids and other chemo drugs, because the a1c test gives the average glucose level for 3 months. Anyway, mine was perfect on Wednesday, so all is very well. Happy Grandmotherhood, Beth! Our little grandson is 8 months old today. I will never forget the night he was born. I had been with my daughter and her husband every since about 1 in the afternoon, and I was so tired I couldn't stand up. I know I was not much help or comfort to her, but she knew how sick I was and wanted me there anyway. I had, had my last chemo treament 4 days before, so it was one of the worst days for me. But I didn't want to miss it. So, finally about 2 that night, he was born. What a nut I was! I left for home about 3:30 in the morning and was up at 6 AM, on my way to work. What a year it has been! Life does go on....
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Hi All,
Just checking in , it has been awhile. It looks like everyone is moving forward. Bethu, babies yet?? How cool. I am feeling well, working and getting back to my typical routine. Still nap some when I have the chance, but genrally feel good.
I have a cousin , male, who was diaginosed with an inoperable brain tumor last December. We have been staying in touch regualry as we go thru all. His daughter was married in August and he looked good at the wedding and had a great time. I saw him today briefly and he just looks so rough and tired. He knows how things are progressing. If there was ever a reminder to enjoy each day , this was it for me today.
I am so very grateful to be this far thru treatment and doing reasonalbly well.
I wish all well and have a great long weekend.
Be well
Nel
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I'm so glad you all check in from time to time. I have 2 more herceptin treatments and then I can get deported. They're in the process of scheduling that, but because my BS is so booked up, I may have to wait 3 months. Oh well, if there is one thing cancer patients have a lot of experience with, it's waiting. Why should this be any different. Feeling stronger all the time. I still have no stamina though. I'm trying to incorportate a healthy diet and exercise. I've never been very disciplined about staying with anything very long, but I'm trying. Has anyone heard from Sandyland lately? What about Quaatsi, Bonseye, sueshane and Tipnas? I hope everything is going well for them.
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Hi to all my November 2011 buddies! So great that we are still keeping in touch. My DH and I were able to go on the cruise we had planned for last year at the same time. Unfortunately, my diagnosis caused me to cancel those plans, but it made the trip this year that much more appreciated. Unfortunately the friends we were going to travel with weren't able to make it due to health issues, so my husband only had me to keep him in line!
Nel ~ So sorry to hear about your cousin. Inoperable is a word that is even worse than just the cancer part. I am thankful and hopeful that our treatments keep us NED for a long time.
GrandmaV ~ I only have 3 more Herceptin treatments left. I have mixed feelings about not having any active treatment after that. I mentioned this to my MO and he told me that's why I am taking the Arimidex pill. I am counting on that! You are so right about waiting for everything...it's been a fast year filled with drama and anxieties about the waiting and the treatments. I am with you on not having much stamina. I seem to tire easily and have many aches and pains, especially in my knees. However, I am trying to ignore what I can and keep on keeping on. I think being back at work full-time is actually a good thing for me right now. It's a more "normal" routine and I don't have time to think about the "what ifs." I have to go get a mammogram but decided that I would wait a couple of weeks until after my niece's wedding. I don't want any possibility of something bad in my head. I want to celebrate with the family and enjoy the happiness we will share. I believe that Sandyland posts on a tamoxifen board, or at least she was a few months ago. Quaatsi and Bonseye post on other boards as well. I miss reading how all of our special group members are doing and I am glad that some of us are still keeping this thread active.
To all...take care and know that I am so grateful that you all came into my life when I needed support and knowledge. Linda
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grandma v:
Thank you for including me in your post. It was nice to be included in your thoughts... I am done with all of my treatments. I take tamoxifen for five years. I also get Zoladex monthly and Zometa every six months. I had my exchange surgery in March. I feel pretty good. I hope everyone is doing well. It's hard to move on and feel normal again- although it's getting easier as time goes on....
Take care of yourself,
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Linda, It's great that you were able to enjoy your cruise. I know what you mean about stopping active treatments. It's a love - hate relationship with herceptin and with the port. They've been my security blanket. But I know our estrogen sucking drugs (as lago puts it) are powerful meds.
sueshane, it's so good to hear you're doing good. I know you were having a terrible time with depression, as so many of us have. I still feel it starting to creep in on me from time to time. Isn't it crazy that we just can't believe we're ok now? You're right though, I think we need time to accept that. I think part of it for me is that I was blindsided by my diagnosis last year, I just don't want that to happen again.
Beth, we're waiting to hear if the twins have come yet. Please let us know.
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Grandma V-thank you so much for checking in and asking about me. I have been missing...sooo much going on. I lost yet another friend to cancer...not breast but she leaves four children behind. I think the hardest thing for me was having a friend, who was very upset, say to me.....I can't imagine how you feel. That sent me into a panic. I have to stay positive and after a year of misery...four surgeries...chemo and radiation I refuse to wallow in poor me. I have done all that I can...onward with life and every day is a gift. trying to reinvent myself....live healthier then before, exercise and follow my passions. I am so very tired after this past year. Trying to get my strength back and move on forward.
I will try to keep up with everyone and blessings to everyone on this journey.....only we each know how it feels.....stay strong and Fight Like a Girl!!!
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Bonseye, it's good to hear from you. I'm glad you're moving forward and getting your strength back. You've been through so much. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I hate cancer.
I'm facing a similar situation. One of my husband's friends found out in June that he has mets to the bone and they haven't yet found the primary. His prognosis isn't good and everytime I think about it, I get a rock in the pit of my stomach. Not only for what he's facing, but it's a daily reminder of what could happen at a time when I'm trying to move foward and put this behind me. It's a tough situation. I never knew how widespread cancer is and I hardly gave it a second thought before my diagnosis. Since my diagnosis it's seems it's everywhere.
I echo what Linda said in her post. I too am grateful that you all came into my life at one of my darkest hours. I hope all of us remain cancer free.
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Grandma V you are sooo right. I never thought twice about cancer and now every time I hear something I cringe....I need to let that go and just live. Very difficult to do. I am so thankful I found you all and so glad we have each other to bounce things off of. I am so sorry for your husbands friend and will keep him and their family in my prayers.
Happy Weekend everyone
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My brain tells me that I am fine, but you know I can't help worrying. I started several months ago having very painful joints in my thumbs. Both of the joints, the one in the middle of the digits and the one at the base where it attached to my hands, are swollen, sore, and when I try to bend them, they pop. Sometimes they catch when they straighten, and that is what hurts the most. When that happens, the pain takes my breath away. I can't do the simplest things, like open a door or jar, etc., or anything that involves putting pressure on my thumbs. I can't push a button on an appliance or anything with my thumbs. Anyway, I told my onc about it almost 3 months ago, and she said that it is probably the arimidex and wants me to try to keep taking it because it is the best thing for me. She suggested Advil, which my husband had already suggested to me, so I started taking 2 in the morning and 2 at night. Now I can stand the pain, but it is still there, just not excruciating. I have been reading a lot, though, about how to tell if your cancer is spreading. Some people say they started having bone pain, then found that their breast cancer had spread to their bones. I did have a bone scan when I first was diagnosed a year ago, and it showed no cancer, but they also said the scan showed some arthritis, and I have read that it is hard to tell the difference on a bone scan between arthritis and cancer. I have already asked the onc if I would have any more bone scans or the other CT scan repeated at any point, and she said no. I understand (sort of) that the insurance wouldn't probably want to okay another expensive test when that first one didn't even show anything, but what if what they saw and thought was arthritis was really some early cancer. It was in one lymph node, so it looks like to me that it could be other places as well. My brain tells me that if there were any cells anywhere that surely the chemo killed them away, and I pretty much believe it is the arimidex, but I don't want to regret later on not doing all I could to get the best treatment for myself. I have a regular checkup with my onc on the 26th of this month, and I am trying to decide whether to just mention it to her, insist on a bone scan, or what. Does anyone else have this severe pain in any joints from their hormone blockers, or has anyone's onc suggested a new bone scan if nothing showed up on the first one? By the way, during chemo and for a pretty good while after, I had pretty bad pains in my legs, my back and neck sometimes too, but now that my thumbs are hurting, I don't really feel any pains in any other joints.
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bahamamom, Since it's both thumbs I don't think it would be bone mets. I just can't imagine that cancer would spread that way. But I completely understand the worry about it. It's most likely the arimidex or some of the fillers that the company who made your pills put in the pills. I'm taking letrozole (generic femara) and there was a big discussion on the femara thread about the fillers. The first pills I got were pink and it turned out some of the unnecessary ingredients were food dyes. Then about 2 months ago my pharmacy started using a different company and now my pills are tan. I looked them up online and they had no food dyes. My knees were really bothering me before the switch and now they're a bit better. Other women reported less side effects after changing pharmacies or having their pharmacy try a different company. If you look on your prescription bottle to see who makes your pills you may be able to find out what they use in manufacturing yours, or maybe your pharmacy could find out. Just switching to a different company may make a difference, or having your onco prescribe a different hormone blocker may help.
There is a condition called trigger thumb or finger that others have developed after being on an aromatese inhibitor. You might bring that up to your onco. And if you need another scan for peace of mind, then I say go after it. I hope you can get some answers and soon.
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Grandma-Thanks for your advice and for sharing your wisdom with me. You always give me some very useful information, like this time about the fillers. I hadn't even thought about that. I was just thinking about the lack of estrogen causing a decrease in the lubrication in my joints, and the onc had said that the biggest side effect was joint pain, so I really was just expecting that anyway. It was just surprising to me that it was my thumbs, not my legs where I had, had so much pain earlier in the treatment. I will definitely try to check on this.
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GrandmaV~ I am glad you mentioned that the fillers in certain drugs can cause joint pain. I am going to discuss this with my MO at my next appointment. My knee joints are very painful when I stand up. I also am starting to have discomfort in my thumbs. I have been taking anastrozle since May and I guess the side effects can develop as time goes on. Of course, with every ache and pain my mind goes to the darker place. I am trying to shake off some of those feelings, because life isn't fun when you have negative thoughts in your mind.
Bonseye ~ I agree, we need to just let go and live! We can waste a lot of precious time by thinking negatively. I am going to work on that, too.
Bahamamom ~ I find myself reading about relapse and other things I don't want to happen, too. My DH tells me to stay off the Internet. I think maybe he's right, especially since my MO says there are no regular tests for things unless there are symptoms. I just hate having to feel like I am looking over my shoulder ever since diagnosis.
On a happier note, my DH and I had a wonderful, relaxing time on our cruise. Of course, as soon as I got back to work and reality, it seemed like a distant memory...but a great one! Take care, everyone, and I want to say it's great to see the posts from our group. I hope we keep in touch for a long, long time! Linda
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bahamamom and Linda, After you find out what fillers are in your pills, the following link can help you see what each filler is and it's side effects:
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GrandmaV ~ Thanks for the link. I will make a copy so I can read it before I see my MO again in a few weeks. I am supposed to have a mammogram before that appointment and I am very nervous about it. Hope all is well with you and everyone else reading this! Linda
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greetings everyone-- I have been away-- not in spirit but in actuality! I just read up on the posts I missed. So glad to hear so many of us are doing well... curly hair or not... spirits in tact, hopeful and grateful.
i realized many days after my year anniversary that it had come and passed. I was riding in Utah for two weeks, camping and enjoying the company of one of my best girlfriends, my best buddy (my horse) and a new little rescue female pup. I returned for two weeks to get my stuff together, get two doses of Herceptin and leave again for another week of camping. I am almost done with chemo!! Hair looks great, body getting stronger. I have been on Tamoxifen but it is really affecting my quality of life. In consult with my oncologist in the decision to d/c.
I am working still-- have been throughout the whole process-- but now, I am thinking that I may just work fewer hours the rest of my life and live within the constraints that puts on us. It gives me more quality time with my horses, my son, my hub. And of course, life is good when there is sleep, play and work-- all in balance.
My best to all of you and will check in again, I promise-- much more often!!
Q
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I posted this under TE trouble...wanted to share....
I was asked to do a patient profile for where I work and was treated......thought I would share. I made it through a mastectomy, staph infection, chemo, broken ankle, shingles, TRAM surgery and radiation. Love and hope keep me going and I am now able to work with women at risk of having breast cancer....It's a tough road but it can be done.....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4eu5y...0
